Ice cube loosening device



May 16, 1950 M. J. POLLAK 2,508,123

1CE CUBE LoosENING DEVICE Filed May 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -MalyI 16,1950 M. J. POLLAK 2,508,123

' ICE CUBE LoosENING DEVICE Filed May 7,1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMay 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

- This invention relates to improvements in home appurtenances, and hasfor an object to provide a meritorious and novel thermal-electricdevice, particularly advantageous for use in conveniently andeconomically removing or facilitating the removal of ice cubes andsimilar, as well as other molded bodies from the so-called ice traysgenerally used in the freezing compartments of automatic refrigerators.

Another equally important object of the invention is to provide a devicewhich, following the; removal of molded bodies, especially ice cubes,from a container or forming tray, will receive and retain them in such amanner as to sanitarily maintain and preserve the same and permit oftheir convenient removal, as and when desired.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the improved devicewith means, rendered automatically operable with introduction of an icecube or other molded body containing tray into said device, for bodilyheating the tray to a degree entirely suicient to cause limited meltingof the bodies at their points of Contact with said tray and the usualpartition walls therein, hence, loosening the bodies with relation tothe tray and partition walls allowing them to be freely removed ordischarged from the tray.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of the statedcharacter having an adu vantageous and novel form of supporting frameassembly and housing, the same being so constructed that positioning ofthe housing with relation to the frame assembly may be selectivelychanged in a manner to effect neat and positive delivery of previouslyloosened bodies within a received tray into a portion of the housing fortemporary storing therein.

` A further advantageous and hence, important desideratum of theinvention, resides in the provision of frictional electrical contactmeans within the device housing, in a manner to make positivel contactwith adjacent portions of a tray engaged therein, their arrangementsbeing such as to cause coursing of an electrical current bodily andevenly through said tray, as well as partition Walls which may betherein, thus, effecting a substantially uniform overall though limitedheating of the same.

AA further aim of the invention is to provide a home appurtenanceembodying in its construction not only advantageous and, in consequence,meritorious utilitarian features, but attractive and novel designwhereby to render the same desirable as an ornamental adjunct to home Inmaking the above statement, I am not unmindful that, (l) mechanicalmeans for effecting a more or less force applied disjointure and removalof ice cubes or other molded bodies from refrigerator freezing trays orlike receptacles have been developed, (2) that heating arrangements andconstructions (including electrical) have been proposed and reduced topractice whereby those portions of a tray or like receptacle, plus theusual partition walls commonly employed therein, bondingly contacted byfrozen or molded bodies, are heated to predetermined degrees to effect asubstantially localized and limited melting and freeing of the same, and(3) that different methods of loosening or separating the frozen ormolded bodies from their receiving trays, etc., have been devised,including the simple and well known procedure of flowing hot or warmwater over the bottom and sides of a tray, and then over the stilljoined bodily removed frozen or molded forms and partition walls to freethe former.

Such devices and methods are, for the better part, unsatisfactory fromthe viewpoints of practicability; adaptability of the mechanical andelectrical devices to standard types of trays in freezing equipment;economies (loss of goodly portions of the frozen or molded bodies byexcessive melting thereof), and/or convenience of removal and storing ofthe removed frozen or molded bodies for subsequent use, as and whendesired.

Through the medium of my invention, hereinafter more fully described,there is provided a device whose usage and/or operation willsatisfactorly comply with all, plus more of thosev prerequisiteshereinaboveV mentioned.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritoriousteachings of my invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointedout in the following detailed disclosure thereof,

when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that the forms of the invention presented herein are preciseand what is now considered to be the better modes of embodying itsprinciples, but that ether modifications and changes may be made inspecic embodiments without departing from its esu sential features.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front end elevation oi' my irnproved device, wherein thehousing door which permits of access to the housing interior, is shownin a dotted line open position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure l, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure l, looking in the direc tion in which the arrows point.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section through the device, taken onthe line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrowspoint.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail in elevation, of the rear end portionof the device, showing the connection of the set-down transformer casingto its rear end wall, and the spring arrangement for movably retainingand returning the rotatable portion of the supporting frame in and toits normal position, and

Figure 6 is a semi-schematic view of electrical wiring of the device.

Referring inl detail to the drawings, the improved device, generally,comprises a base l. a housing assembly 2, and a tray receiving andsupporting frame 3 within the housing.

The base I consists of a body of appropriate shape and size (shown inthe drawings as being of substantially rectangular formation),constructed of sheet metal, plastic or other suitable material,marginally flanged to provide end and the side walls, portions of whichhave feet 4 or their' equivalents and a more or less medially locatedwell therein in which the lower and adjacent portions of the housingvertical circularly shaped end frames (presently described) are xedly orstationarily received.

The housing assembly 2 includes, in its construction, a pair oflongitudinally spaced' and relatively7 opposed circularly shaped endframes .'iv and 6. Said end frames are complementally constructed andsized. They are, in fact', metal or plastic rings ofV right angularlycross-sectional formation, as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of theaccompanying drawings, whose horizontal peripheral portions arerelatively inwardly disposed, and Whose outer vertical portionsconstitute-abutments or shoulders, the purpose of which will bepresently apparent.

Circular end walls T and 8, preferably constructed of pressed or moldedber or plastic material, are snugly and rotatably received in thecircular end frames 5 and 6, respectively, and as will be appreciated,serve as front and rear end walls for the housing 2.

The front end wall I has a rectangularly shaped opening or way formed inthe same, normally closed by a horizontally spring hinged verticallyswingable door 9 equipped with a suitable handle I0. The opening, andhence, the door 9, are directly adjacent the forward end of thesupporting frame 3 and afford access thereto, i. e.. through the frontend wall 1.

If desired, words, such as Insert, Remove, and Turm and an appropriatepointing arrow,

may be presented on portions of the outer side of the wall 'I forfurnishing directive instructions to a user of the device, ashereinafter more fully described.

The rear end wall 8 is formed with suitably located ways I I forreceiving electrical conductors therethrough, and with a substantiallyconcentrically located opening receiving a spring pressed push rodtype`of electrical circuit closing switch I2 therein (see Figures 2 and3) it being noted in this connection that the push rod I2 of the switchextends for a distance into the housing interior adjacent to and incommunication with the rear end of the supporting frame 3.

The housing assembly 2 is completed by a coving of sheet-like materialI3 engaged with and about and connected to adjacent portions of theperipheries of the circular end frames 5 and f5. A suitable way islengthwise formed or provided in the upper portion of said covering inorder that convenient access may be had to the housing interior. Thisopening is normally closed by a cross-sectionally arcuately shaped doorI4 of appropriate length. and width, the door being hinged at one of itssides, as at I5, to an adjacent portion of the cover I3 and having ahandle I5, or its equivalent, on the opposite and freel side thereofThus, by upward or outward swinging of the door the cover provided wayis exposed and allows access to be had to the housing interior.

The tray receiving and supporting frame 3 comprises equi-lengthedinwardly fastened channeled strips I7 disposed longitudinally of andthrough the substantially medial portion of the housing 2 interior, asis well shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. Saidstrips are supported in transversely spaced horizontal relation withinthe housing interior in substantially parallelism by means of anglebrackets I8 formed or otherwise provided on their opposite ends, which,in turn, are xedly connected by rivets I9, or other suitable securingmeans, to adjacent portions ef the inner sides of the front and rearwalls l and 3. lower leg or web portions of the strips il are of greaterwidths than the normally upper ones, and that these widths, especiallythose of the upper strip legs, are sufficient to permit the strips toembracingly slidably receive the adjacent sides of a metal (aluminum orlike metal) tray, such as shown in dotted lines and indicated by thenumeral 2e, therebetween, and so, prevent its vertical displacement ordisengagement therefrom, particularly, when the tray is positioninverted, in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

Because of the positioning of the strips I1 between the circular frontand rear end walls 'I and 8, and their fixed connection to the same,

as liereinbefore described, it will be seen and appreciated thatlongitudinal movement or shifting of said end walls with relation to thehorizontal or peripheral portions of their respective circular endframes and 6, will be prevented;

Y also, that the walls 'I and 8 will be so positioned and relativelyretained as to ensure free or unimpeded rotation of the same withintheir respective base I stationarily supported end frames.

A sump pan or other receptacle 2| is removably received within the lowerportion of the housing 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and is adapted toreceive and retain the removed contents of the tray 20, a drain opening22 being preferably formed in the housing for an obvious purposey Note,at this point, that the normally Right angularly formed spring metalcontact devices, identified by the numerals 23 and 23', are riveted orotherwise connected to the inner face sides of the channeled strips I1in equispaced relation (see Figures 2 and 3), and the free portionsthereof are disposed so as to have positive rubbing contact 4withadjacent portions or sides of the metal tray 2|] as and when the latteris engaged and supportingly received between the channeled strips I1.

The spring contact device 23', as shown in Figure 6, is ofthermal-bimetal construction and is expansible, when heated to apredetermined degree, whereby to transmit thrust to the pin 24 connectedto the movable contact member of an electrical circuit breaker 25, forbreaking the same and'maintaining it broken until the bimetal contactdevice cools and contracts to its normal or near normal position. Thus,overheating of the tray 20, in the event of failure of the circuitclosing device I2 to break circuit after a brief circuit closingoperation, will be prevented, as hereinafter more fully described.

At this point, it may be noted that the relative arrangement andelectrical connection of g the contact devices 23 and 23' on thechanneled strips I1 are such that when the diagonally opposed onesthereof are engaged and in rubbing or electrical contact with theadjacent sides of the metal tray 23, electric current will traverse theentire body of said tray. Consequently, the tray will be evenly heatedin a minimum of time.

`A suitable form of bracket 26 having a peripheral channel or groove 26therein, is fXedly connected to an appropriate portion of the outer sideof the rear end wall 3 and supports thereon a step-down transformer 21.Said transformer is so constructed as to provide an output of lowvoltage alternating power of large current cap-acity, which. with nowingthrough the relatively low metallic resistance ofthe tray 2U, willeffect heating of the same. A removable housing cover 28 is preferablyengaged over the transformer 21 (see Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings)and with an adjacent portion of the bracket for an obvious purpose; away being provided in its outer side whereby power input conductors 29can be connected to the transformer primary winding.

Referring to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, which illustratesthe electrical circuit for causing heating of the tray 2l! when the sameis engaged in the channeled strips I1 of the tray supporting frame andby the channeled strip supported contact devices 23 and 23', it will beseen that the electric power input conductors 29 are connected to theprimary winding 3i! of the transformer 21, and that one side of thiscircuit has the switch I2 (on-off switch) and the bimetal spring contactdevice operated circuit breaker 25 connected therein. The transformersecondary winding 3| is connected, by conductors 32, to diagonallyopposed spring contact devices 23 on the opposite channeled strips I1.Consequently, the now of electric current bodily through a metal tray2i! engaged by said diagonally opposed contact devices will be effected,thus, insuring even or uniform heating of the same in a minimum of time.

In order that the tray receiving and supporting frame 3 will be normallyretained in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanyingdrawings, and too, will be automatically returned to such positionfollowing its rotation to an inverted position, as when the tray 23 sup-6 ported on the channeled strips I1 carried by the front and rear endwalls I and 8 is turned bottom-side-up preparatory to and during itsflash heating to thaw and/or loosen its contents for removal, acontractile coiled spring 33 is connected at one of its ends to anelement 34and in the grooved portion 23 of the bracket 26, and at itsother end to an element 35 on an appropriate and near portion of thebase I. With rotation of the frame 3 to an inverted position, the

spring 33 is tensioned, thus, when the frame is released, it will beimmediately counter-rotated to its initial position. If desired, asuitably placed finger or lug 3d can be xedly mounted on an appropriateportion of the inner side of the rotatable rear end wall 8, as shown inFigure 4 of the drawings, adapted to engage at predetermined points ofits rotation with spaced stops 31 and 31 mounted on the stationarycovering I3. With engagement of said lug with the stop 31, the traysupporting frame 3, obviously, will be arranged in its normal or initialposition, whereas, with engagement of the lug with the stop 31 the trayWill be arranged in an inverted or bottom-side-up position.

In operation or usage of my improved device, an ice cube or other bodyor bodies containing tray (with or without partition walls) which hasbeen removed from the freezing compartment of an automatic refrigerator,is placed into the housing assembly of the Same via the door providedway of the front end wall 1, being slidably received and supported(open-side-up) on the channeled strips I1 of the supporting frame 3. Thetray is now moved fully rearwardly into the frame 3, and at or near therearward limit of such movement, its rear end wall engages and thruststhe push rod i2 of the switch I2 nwardly to close the latter. The endwall door 9 .is now closed, hence, retaining the tray in operatingengagement with said switch push rod I2 whereby a now of electricalcurrentthrough the tray will be effected for heating it in the mannerhereinbefore described. At this point, the tray is position inverted byengaging the handle I0 of the door 9 and rotating it, along with the endwalls 1 and B and the tray supporting frame 3, to a point Where the lug3s on the rear end wall 8 abuts the stop 31' on the housing assemblycovering I3, i. e., it will be thus moved through an arc ofapproximately During the brief interim, the metal tray 20 will have beenbodily heated to a temperature suflicient to melt those portions of theice cubes or other bodies adjacent and adhering to its walls, as well asto the walls of partitions within the tray, hence, loosening andallowing them to fall from the tray into the pan 2|.

When the cover handle I is released, the spring pressure normallyexerted on the push rod I2 of the switch I2, pushes the tray 20forwardly of its frame 3 and coincidentally, opens said switch I2,thereby automatically interrupting the ow of electric current to thecontacts 23 and the tray 20. Also, the now tensioned spring 33 willfunction to rotatably return the tray supporting frame 3 and the endwalls 1 and 8, along with the tray 23, to normal or initial positionwithin the housing assembly. Thereupon, the emptied tray may beconveniently removed from the device housing assembly.

The ice cubes or other bodies in the pan 2I may be removed therefrom byopening the swinging door I4 of the housing assembly, thus, affordingaccess to the housing interior and the pan.

Becauselof the lesser widths of the normally upper leg or web portionsof the channeled strips I7-, it is apparent that when the tray supportuing vframe Sis position inverted (arranged bottom-side-up) the loosenedcubes or bodies in the tray will be allowed to fall freely therefrominto the pan 2|.

Excessive heating or overheating of the metal tray 2B will be positivelyprevented by means of the thermal bimetal contact device 23. That is tosay, should the contacts 23 be energized for too long a period of time,the circuit breaker 2d would be activated by the bimetal contact device23 which is in physical contact with the metal oi' the tray 29, andAdeects, snap-like, as the tray temperature rises above a pre-determineddegree, thus, opening the primary circuit of the transformer 21.

Whereas, I have hereinbefore described my improved device as beingequipped with the stepdown transformer for use with alternating electriccurrent, it will be understood and appreciated that said device can, asadvantageousiy, be used with direct electric current by placing asuitable heating element on, over or across the channelled strips I1 andconnecting a source ci direct current thereto from or through thecontact devices 23, In such an arrangement, need for the transformer 21will, of course, be eliminated. Moreover, the arrangement would permitthe use of plastic trays'or types of trays other than metal, the bodiesof which would be heated by exchange as between the direct currentheated element and the tray.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a housing, positioninvertible means within the housing for removably receiving andsupporting a tray thereon, contact means in the housing engageable withadjacent portions of the tray when received on said rst means, astepdown transformer, a circuit closing means connected to the primarywinding of said transformer andv arranged in the housing for engagementand operation by the tray when said tray is engaged, to a predeterminedextent, with said receiving and supporting means, and the secondarywinding of said transformer being connected to certain of said contactmeans.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a housing, meanswithin the housing for removably receiving and supporting a tray,relatively spaced and oppositely positioned contact means in the housingengageable with adjacent portions of the tray when received on saidfirst means, a step-down electrical transformer, circuit closing meansin the housing engageable and operable by the tray when the sam'e isreceived in a predetermined position on said tray receiving andsupporting means, said circuit closing means being connected to theprimary winding of said transformer, the outermost and diagonallyopposed of said Contact means being connected to the secondary windingof said transformer, and thermal circuit breaking means connected to theprimary winding of the transformer operable. independently of saidcircuit closing means, at a predetermined time, by one of said ContactI'IlallS.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a housing, wallsrotatable in the end portions of the housing, a tray receiving andsupporting frame supported by and between said walls, one of said wallshaving a way formed therein, a cover for the way thrustingly engageablewith an adjacent end of the tray, contact means on the frame engageablewith adjacent side portions of the tray when received on the frame, andelectrical power supply means connected to said contact means.

fl. A device of the character described, comprising a housing, wallsrotatable in the end portions of the housing, a tray receiving andsupporting frame supported by and between said walls, one ci said wallshaving a way formed therein, a cover for the way thrustingly engageablewith an adjacent end of the tray, contact means on the frame engageablewith adjacent side portions of the tray when received on the frame,electrical power supply means connected to said Contact means, and acircuit closer on one of said end walls extending within said housingengageable by the tray when received on saidl tray receiving andsupporting frame, said circuit closer being connected to said electricalpower supply means.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a housing one portionof which is open, means for normally closing said open portion of thehousing, walls rotatably received and mounted in spaced relation in saidhousing, a frame iixedly supported by and between said walls forremovably receiving and supporting av tray thereon, one of said wallshaving a way formed therein communicable with said frame, a cover forsaid way thrustingly engageable with an adjacent end of the tray,relatively spaced and opposed Contact means on the opposite sides ofsaid frame engageable with adjacent portions of the tray, circuitclosing means carried by one of said walls extending into the housingoperable by the tray upon thrusting engagement of saidv cover with saidadjacent end of the tray, and a step-down electrical transformer, theprimary winding ci said transformer being connected to said circuitclosing means and its secondary winding connected to certain of thecontact means on the opposite sides of said frame.

MANFRED J. POLLAK.

CITED The foilowing references are of record in the :le of this patent:

UNlTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,316,711 Berresford July 28,1931 1,920,508 Hull Aug. 1, 1933 2,115,944 De Witt May 3, 1938 22121405Rose et al Aug. 20. 1940

